SOUTH SUDAN: Armed opposition rejects ”imposition” of peace deal

South Sudan’s armed opposition on Thursday rejected any “imposition” of a peace deal and said more time is needed to secure lasting peace in the country and it would be necessary to address the root causes of a civil war after the first face-to-face meeting between President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar in […]

South Sudan’s armed opposition on Thursday rejected any “imposition” of a peace deal and said more time is needed to secure lasting peace in the country and it would be necessary to address the root causes of a civil war after the first face-to-face meeting between President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar in almost two years.

An opposition statement called Wednesday night’s meeting “cordial” and said both sides discussed the prospects for peace “in broad terms.” But it warned that the current model for the peace process is “unrealistic” and that “there is no shortcut to peace.”

“For any meaningful dialogue to take place, it should be within the context of a comprehensive political settlement,” the group said.

“So that the guns can fall silent and a conducive environment for dialogue established,” the group said.